PU boycott, faculty divided

PU faculty divided over boycott
Lahore, May 22: A clear divide among the Punjab University (PU) faculty emerged on Monday
with some teachers opposing the ongoing academic boycott by teachers
while others wanted to extend the same until May 24.

The
PU Academic Staff Association (ASA) on Monday announced to continue
observing the academic boycott against hooliganism by the Islami Jamiat
Talaba (IJT) on campus till May 24 (Thursday).

The
decision was made through a resolution unanimously passed in the ASA's
general body meeting held at the PU.However, according to a press
statement, the PU Academic Group, criticising the ASA for continuing the
academic boycott at the varsity, expressed concerns over the boycott.

The
Academic Group's executive council also met on the New Campus and
maintained that the ASA was not just causing the academic loss to
students but also disrupting peaceful environment of the university by
toeing the line of the PU administration.

The ASA meeting
was followed by a protest rally in which the faculty condemned the
student organisation for misbehaving with teachers and interfering in
affairs of the university. They were carrying placards and banners.

The
PUASA demanded the Punjab government to depoliticise the university
campus on a permanent basis and ensure their safety. Earlier, the ASA
president informed the meeting that the elements involved in manhandling
the PU teachers were arrested during an operation at the university
hostel by police a couple of days back.

The meeting was
also informed that the Punjab government had formed a three member
committee, comprising Law Minister Rana Sanaullah, MPA and member PU
syndicate Khawaja Imran Nazeer and the Lahore CCPO. It was decided that
the PUASA's general body would meet on May 24 to decide the future plan
of action.

The Academic Group also expressing concern
over the abrupt departure of PU Vice-Chancellor Mujahid Kamran to the
United Kingdom and maintained that the VC's absence at a time, when the
university was passing through a tough, time was mysterious.

It
also demanded the chief minister take notice of frequent closure of the
university during tenure of the incumbent VC.However, a PU official,
seeking anonymity, said most of the members of the Academic Group were
pro-Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and were following its direction to promote
Jamiat at the campus.

Meanwhile, the IJT activists also
staged a demonstration on Monday on the Canal Road near the PU New
Campus to protest against the Punjab government's failure to nab the
killers of one of its activists, Awais Aqeel. They also criticised the
PU VC and ASA for denying education to students by observing academic
boycott.

The IJT activists criticised the Punjab
government and police and said that delay in nabbing the killers of
Awais Aqeel was a proof of the government's inefficiency. They also
demanded removal of the PU VC and held a protest sit-in after the demo.

Teachers sit-in on 25th
Lahore: The Muttahida Mahaz Asataza Punjab (MMAP) will organise a protest sit-in in
front of the Chief Minister Secretariat on May 25 to press the
government for its demands of increase in salaries, upgrade of posts and
timescale promotions.

GCU quiz
Lahore: Government College University's All Pakistan Inter-University Quiz Competition
2012 with a title "GCU Brain of Pakistan" concluded on Monday. About 37
universities from across the country took part in the quiz contest
organised by GCU Ravians Quiz Society, and the title was won by
Agriculture University Faisalabad (UAF). Quaid-e-Azam University (QAU)
Islamabad secured second position while University of Engineering and
Technology (UET) Lahore stood third.

HEC stops work on 152 projects over non-release of funds
Islamabad: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has completed only 23 projects out
of the total 175 initiated in the current fiscal year 2011-2012 due to
non-release of development funds.

Credible sources
said here on Monday that work on the remaining 152 projects
was started, but it remained incomplete due to non-release of total
development funds under the PSDP.

According to sources,
an amount of Rs16 billion was allocated for the HEC under the PSDP for
development schemes out of the total Rs22 billion budget provided by the
federal government during the current fiscal year. Though huge funds
for development purposes, worth Rs16 billion, were allocated, but only
Rs9.2 billion were released to the HEC during the current fiscal year.
Similarly, the government had allocated an amount of Rs4.6 billion in
the recurring budget to the HEC, which till to date has not been
released. The government also failed to release the supplementary budget
of Rs2.6 billion during the current fiscal year.

Sources
said that the HEC faced problems in meeting its expenses and the amount
of its liabilities has touched Rs4.6 billion to be paid to different
firms. The HEC had proposed to the federal government for an allocation
of Rs32 billion during the current fiscal year. However it received Rs10
billion less out of the total demand for the fiscal year 2011-2012.

For
the next fiscal year, according to sources, the HEC has asked the
government for an allocation of Rs38 billion. However, according to
information gathered from different quarters, the government has decided
to give only Rs28 billion to the HEC in the next fiscal year.

Dr Irfan appointed acting VC of AAUR
Rawalpindi: Professor Dr. Irfan-ul-Haq, Dean, Faculty of Crop and Food Sciences and senior
most professor of the university, has been appointed as acting Vice
Chancellor of Pir Mehr Ali Shah-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi.

Professor
Dr. Irfan carries a remarkable academic career throughout his
education.He got Doctorate Degree in Plant Pathology from University of
Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA. He was also awarded Merit Scholarship
in his academic career and obtained FAO Fellowship for PhD.

Dr.
Irfan is also Dean of Faculty of Crop and Food Sciences, President of
Academic Staff Association, PMAS-AAUR and senior tutor of the
university. He joined PMAS-AAUR in 1999 as Associate Professor
Department of Plant Pathology. Before joining the university, he also
served as investigator, Pakistan Forest Institute, Scientific
Officer/Senior Scientific Officer in Crop Diseases Research Institute,
of Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, Consultant (Plant Pathology)
in FAO/UNDP projects.

He is also working as the member of
Editorial Boards of scientific journals 'International Journal of
Biology and Biotechnology' a quarterly journal published journal by
Department of Botany, University of Karachi and 'Mycopath' a biannual
journal published by Department of Mycology and Plant Pathology,
University of the Punjab, Lahore.

Dr. Irfan is author of
more than 100 hundreds international and national research publications
including research papers, review and popular articles, extension
bulletins and technical reports. He is former member of American
Phytopathological Society, Pakistan Phytopathological Society (Life
Member), Pakistan Botanical Society (Life Member), Pakistan Genetical
Society (Life Member), Pakistan Society of Nematologists and Mycology
and Phytopathology Society of Pakistan. The news

IIUI seminar on Difa-e-Pakistan
Islamabad: The CRs Council of the
International Islamic University is organising a seminar on
'Difa-e-Watan Main Nojwano Ka Kirdar' here on Monday at Quaid-e-Azam
Auditorium, Faisal Masjid Campus, of the University. Renowned scientist
Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan shall be the keynote speaker whereas the Rector,
President and Vice President of the IIUI will also grace the occasion.

Meanwhile,
Iqbal International Institute for Research & Dialogue (IRD), of the
International Islamic University, is organising a 2-day international
conference on 'Being Muslim in the world: Everyday Ethics and Cultures
of Adab', in collaboration with Center for Study of Religion and
Conflict, Arizona State University (USA), from May 23 to May 24, at the
University. Inaugural ceremony of the conference shall be held on May 23
at Quaid-e-Azam Auditorium in Faisal Masjid Campus of the University.

Mushaira fills NUML atmosphere with calls of encore
Islamabad: As a first formal literary initiative under the auspices of poet and
writer Iftikhar Arif, the National University of Modern Languages'
Department of Urdu Language and Literature on Monday arranged a
'Mehfil-e-Mushaira' in which a number of local poets recited their
poetry.

The Mushaira was presided over by top Urdu and Punjabi
poets, namely Anwar Masood, Dr Tauseef Tabasum and Shabnam Shakeel. Dr
Abdil Sial steered the event as the stage secretary. Over 24 poets
belonging to the twin cities entertained the audience with their poems
and 'gazals' for quite some time.

At the outset, Dr Sial set the
mood for the Mushaira by stealing the hearts of the hall-full audience
with his poem 'Umer-e-kasara bakht ko unka hisab kon day, batain jo be
samar rahin, lamhay jo raigan gaiay.' Then there was a long list of
poets whose poetry made those present in the hall frensied with
uncontrolled streams of encore, encore (wah, wah; mukarer, mukerer).

As usual, Anwar Masood entertained the big
audience comprising Heads, Deans, Directors, Faculty members and
students of the university with his sarcastic, mocking, satirical and
humorous poetry. He actually stole the show. He convulsed the audience
with his poetry that is based on very common themes but it leaves some
indelible prints on the hearts of the people. His fulfilled and
pun-packed 'Aaj ki khabrain', 'Nak jai mathay utay hunda', 'Pani
(water)', 'Medicine kay side effects', 'Wapada' and all-time hit
'Bunian' turned the audience upside down with bouts of laughter.

Rector
Masood Hasan, while expressing his views, said: 'It is my honour that
many, many poets have gathered here and provided us an opportunity to be
entertained by their poetry. This event is a great opportunity for the
students and faculty members to learn from literary stalwarts like Anwar
Masood, Tauseef Tabsum and Shabnam Shakeel.' Daily times